Oakland Mayor Barbara Lee appoints interim chief James Beere as permanent police chief

Oakland Mayor Barbara Lee announced Thursday that interim police chief James Beere has been appointed to permanently lead the department.

"Our City has experienced too much turnover in police leadership over the years, and Oakland deserves stability. James Beere embraces meaningful civilian oversight and constitutional policing, values collaboration with our neighborhoods, businesses, and faith leaders, and is fully prepared to lead on day one," Lee said in a statement.

A 29-year veteran of the department, Beere was appointed the interim chief following the departure of Floyd Mitchell late last year. Mitchell has since been appointed to lead the police department in the city of Fremont.

"As your Chief of Police, I look forward to serving Oakland's residents and businesses. Together, we will continue to implement 21st-century policing strategies, leverage modern technology, and bring long-term stability and safety to our city," Beere said.

Beere is among six people who have led the Oakland Police Department since the start of the decade.

Anne Kirkpatrick, the city's first female chief, was fired in 2020 by the Oakland Police Commission. Kirkpatrick sued the city, and a jury found she was wrongfully fired in retaliation. She has since been named chief of police in New Orleans, Louisiana.

Following Kirkpatrick's firing, Darren Allison and Susan Manheimer served as interim police chiefs.

In 2021, former mayor Libby Schaaf appointed LeRonne Armstrong as chief. A West Oakland native and a 20-year veteran of the department, Armstrong was fired by Schaff's successor, Mayor Sheng Thao, in 2023 and Allison was again named acting chief.

Following a search that stretched for over a year, Thao appointed Mitchell, who had previously led the police department in Lubbock, Texas. After less than two years on the job, Mitchell resigned and Beere was named interim chief.